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Unlike pollution from industrial sources and sewage treatment plants, non-point source (NPS) water pollution comes from many diffuse sources. Polluted runoff is caused by rainwater or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it carries and deposits pollutants – such as fertilizers, pesticides and yard wastes like grass clippings and leaves [...]

Did you know that monofilament fishing line does not biodegrade? That means that a piece of fishing line can last about 600 years in an aquatic environment! Fish and other wildlife can become entangled in fishing line and some animals eat the line and cannot digest it. Entanglement and accidental ingestion of fishing line can [...]

Did you know there are over 140,000 wildfires a year in the U.S.? The consequences of wildfires have significant impacts on fish and their habitats due to changes in water quality and water flow. Forest fires cause an increase in flooding because the vegetation that once slowed the runoff is now gone. They also result [...]

Elusive and beautiful, California golden trout, sometimes known as “fish from heaven,” are found in rivers and streams in the Sierra Nevada high country. Overgrazing by sheep and cattle has degraded some of the golden trout’s habitat; poor water quality and competition from other fish can also harm golden trout. For many years, Trout Unlimited [...]

Did you know that the average American household uses about two-thirds of its water outside? Most is used to water lawns and as much as half of that water is wasted by inefficient watering, either too often or at the hottest part of the day when water evaporates quickly. When we conserve water at home, [...]

If you have cabin fever this winter and can’t be enjoying time outside, know that the snow is beneficial to the bodies of water and other natural areas that you enjoy during the summer. Snow replenishes water in rivers and streams and provides insulation for fish and wildlife that slow down during the winter. At [...]

Each year, communities across the U.S. pour hundreds of tons of salt and other de-icing materials on roads and highways. Rock salt, or sodium chloride, is the most commonly used de-icing agent. The salt works by dissolving the precipitation on roadways and lowering the freezing point, thereby melting ice and snow. Although this is beneficial [...]

The southeastern United States is one of the most highly populated areas in the nation. As more people move to the area, there is increased pressure on our freshwater resources. Pollution from rain water runoff is perhaps the most significant threat to freshwater.  Eroded soils clog fish gills, smother eggs, destroy aquatic habitat and generally make a river [...]

Invasive plants are species of plants that are not native to a specific region. Often they grow fast, spread easily and displace other plants. Invasive plants tend to grow in places where vegetation has been removed and the most aggressive invasive plants can actually invade existing ecosystems. Invasive plants are generally undesirable because they are [...]

Unlike pollution from industrial sources and sewage treatment plants, non-point source (NPS) water pollution comes from many diffuse sources. Polluted runoff is caused by rainwater or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it carries and deposits pollutants – such as fertilizers, pesticides and yard wastes like grass clippings and leaves [...]

We don’t often associate the desert with trout habitat, but the gila (HEEL-a) trout, or “trout of the desert,” is a unique species that lives in the arid climate of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.  Unfortunately, the gila trout has suffered severe population declines over the past 100 years and currently occupy only a fraction [...]

Did you know that Yellowstone National Park has 13 fish native to its lakes and streams? These include Yellowstone cutthroat trout, arctic grayling and mountain whitefish.  Non-native fish species that were introduced to the park in the late 19th and early 20th centuries include rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout and lake trout. Although non-native [...]

For trout fishermen who wade in rivers and streams, it’s important to have a great pair of waders. In years past, most waders had felt sole bottoms. However, it has been found that the felt-soled boots can carry invasive species from river to river. These invasive species can be lethal to fish. New Zealand mud [...]